by Ann,Brooklyn
“Thank you again for agreeing to do that song with Collette,” the black-haired guy was saying. “I know it must be awkward, but—” He broke off as he saw Shayna. “Oh.”
Dante beckoned her forward. “This is Shayna Gray, historical romance author.” He grinned at Shayna and pointed at the two men. “Shayna, this is Quinn Mayne, lead singer of Viciöus and the groom-to-be. And this is Klement Burke, bassist of Bleeding Vengeance and the best man.”
Shayna offered her hand. “It’s nice to meet you. Congratulations on your wedding.”
Quinn shook her hand with only cursory interest, but Klement stared at her like she was a newly discovered species. “No fucking way! My girlfriend is a huge fan of yours. All she wanted for Valentine’s Day was your latest book. She’s gonna freak when she meets you.” He headed for the door and beckoned for Shayna to follow. “Come on, she just headed down to the spa to meet Kinley and Christine, Quinn’s sister…” He trailed off and gave a gleeful grin. “I can’t wait to see her face!”
“Hold up,” Dante said, laughing, and he turned to Shayna. “Sorry, Klem doesn’t have the best social skills.”
“It’s fine,” Shayna said, chuckling, wondering if she should point out that Dante also often presumed to decide what she was going to do. Really, maybe that could wait for later.
“Is that okay with you, Shayna?” Dante continued. “We guys just have some pre-wedding plans to make before we meet up with Collette. You’d probably have a better time in a spa day with the bride and her friends.”
“Okay,” Shayna said. What else could she do without sounding like a clingy bitch? Besides, getting a spa treatment and meeting a fan really did sound more appealing than being stuck in a hotel room listening to guys talk about things she knew nothing about—and then being left alone while he met with his ex.
“Just charge everything to the room,” Dante told her.
Klement shook his head. “No way, it’s my treat. It’s the least I can do for kidnapping her and dragging her down to meet Kat.”
Dante rolled his eyes. “Fine.”
They all left the room and headed to the elevator.
“So,” Quinn asked, “how did you two meet?”
Dante laughed. “Let’s wait on that. It’s a long, crazy story.”
They all rode the elevator down to the main floor and headed to the spa the back way to avoid the other guests. Four women waited in its lobby. They were all so gorgeous and glowing with happiness that Shayna couldn’t tell which one was the bride.
The shortest woman gave Klement a mischievous grin. “What did you forget this time?”
“Your favorite author.” He nudged Shayna’s elbow.
Blushing like an idiot, Shayna offered her hand to the person who must be Kat. “Hi, I’m Shayna Gray.”
“I’m Katana James, but you can call me Kat.” Then Shayna’s words registered. Kat’s brown eyes widened, but she peered up at Klement she shook Shayna’s hand. “No way! But how?”
Her boyfriend grinned. “She’s with Dante, so I had to bring her down to meet you. Is it okay if she joins your spa day?”
“Are you kidding? This is a dream come true!”
Kat grabbed Shayna’s hand and dragged her over to the other women, Dante trailing behind them. At the same time she asked, “When’s the next book coming out? There are so many hints and set-ups in the last one!”
Dante greeted the other women then gave Shayna a quick kiss. “I’ll meet you up in the room when you’re done.”
After the three men left, Shayna found herself being studied by four pairs of eyes. Kat finally broke the silence with introductions.
“Dude, you guys, this is Shayna Gray, that author I’ve been obsessing over.” She looked at Shayna then introduced her friends, first pointing to the tallest woman, one who had waist-length dark brown hair and an athletic figure. “This is my best friend, Kinley, who’s the lead guitarist of Viciöus and going to be marrying Quinn tomorrow.”
Kat gestured next to an older woman with strawberry blonde hair and a friendly smile. “And this is Tanya. She’s married to Tony, the drummer of Viciöus. Kin and I just met her, but she’s awesome.” She pointed finally to a woman with Quinn’s green eyes and black hair. “And this is Christine, Quinn’s sister, but everyone calls her Chrissy.”
Shayna’s gaze scanned these beautiful, self-assured women who were in the heavy metal world and suddenly wanted more than anything to fit in. Smiling to conceal her nervousness, she waved and managed a murmured, “Hi.”
The women surveyed her curiously, and thankfully with no hostility. All three gave her warm smiles, and Kinley, the bride-to-be, patted the seat next to her. She said, “I guess it’s time to confess that I’ve read all of your books too.”
Kat plopped down in the chair beside her. “Really? After all the crap you flipped me for reading romance? You called it ‘girly fluff’ as I recall.”
“Hey,” Tanya interjected, “I read romance too.” She glanced at Shayna. “Though I haven’t read yours yet, I’d like to.”
“Thank you,” Shayna said. Her mind spun with dizzy amazement that actual rock stars had read her books and enjoyed them. She fought back a bitter laugh. And to think, her mother and husband had convinced her that her writing was just a silly hobby!
Kat went into a gushing description of Shayna’s books until Shayna’s ears were burning in embarrassment and the receptionist at the spa ushered them in for their treatments. There they were led to a locker room to strip and change into terry-cloth robes before each was treated to a mineral spray that left Shayna’s skin tingling. After that, they were rubbed head to toe with a scented exfoliating lotion and massaged until she turned into a puddle.
“I can’t believe you talked me into this girly shit,” Kinley grumbled once their faces were slathered with some sort of goo.
Kat laughed. “It’s okay to be girly once in a while, you know. Especially on your wedding day. I can’t wait to see you tomorrow when they do your makeup and style your hair.”
“No talking,” the spa lady admonished. “The mask needs to dry with your skin relaxed.”
When the facials were completed, Shayna marveled. Not only did the mask and lotions relax her skin, it felt softer and smoother than it had been in ages.
They moved on to the manicures and pedicures, and Kat resumed her chatter. “How did you meet Dante Deity?”
Shayna gave them the edited version, but all four of her companions still gasped.
“I would kill Quinn if he ever did that to me,” Kinley snarled when she heard about Shayna’s ex.
Chrissy shook her head. “Quinn worships the ground you walk on and you know it.” She looked over at Shayna. “And Dante would never pull anything like that. In fact, I hear his ex-wife was the one who cheated on him.”
Tanya nodded. “Then she married the guy, but they divorced six months back.”
Shayna’s stomach lurched. Collette was single? The realization made her shiver.
Kat mirrored her wide-eyed look…then gave her a subtle but firm headshake. The reaction reminded Shayna that Collette’s appearance was supposed to be a surprise, so she rushed to change the subject.
“So, what are you doing for a bachelorette party?”
“This is the party.” Kinley crossed her legs as soon as her pedicure was finished. “After this, we’re just going to hang out. You’re invited, of course.”
Shayna gasped. “Oh, but you should have a party.” She still fondly remembered her own. Even though Shawn’s sister had thrown it, and it was mostly Shawn’s friends’ girlfriends who’d come, Shayna had reveled in the female camaraderie of her bachelorette party. The male stripper hadn’t been too shabby either.
“It’s probably too late for me to find a stripper,” she thought aloud.
Kinley laughed. “I don’t want one anyway. Unless it’s Quinn.”
Chrissy made a face. “Ewww, I don’t want to see my brother naked.” She grinned at Shayna. �
��Though I’m not opposed to strippers.”
Kinley shook her head. “Nah, I just want to stay here. We only barely got done with our tour. I’m sick of crowds and parties.”
“Oh yeah.” Shayna hadn’t thought of that. “Maybe we could have a little celebration in our suite. It has a little hot tub on a balcony.”
“A little party does sound awesome.” Kinley grinned.
“Let me text Dante and make sure he’s okay with it.” She pulled out her phone and texted him. Would he be okay with it?
As if reading her mind, Kinley leaned forward in her chair. “We can go to ours if he’s not. Quinn and I have a pool in our suite.”
While her nails dried, Shayna waited for interminable tense minutes, trying not to picture Dante with Collette. Finally her phone buzzed and she jumped, almost dropping it. She took a deep breath and clicked on Dante’s response.
Sure, but don’t be mad if the guys and I crash it.
Shayna read the reply aloud, and Kinley laughed. “That’s fine. I don’t believe in that silly segregation shit.” Then she frowned. “You looked nervous. Is Dante really as serious and strict as people say? I’ve only gotten to hang out with him a few times when we toured with him, but Quinn says he’s a dictator.”
Shayna remembered Dante’s irrefutable command for her to get back to writing and smiled. “Sort of, but not in a mean way. I just… I was just relaxed from the massage and the phone startled me.”
Kat gave her a knowing look.
Sure enough, as they left the spa and after Kinley headed back to her room to grab her bathing suit, Kat pulled Shayna aside in the hallway. “You’re worried about Collette, huh.”
Swallowing, Shayna nodded. “She’s so beautiful and…” She shrugged helplessly.
Kat patted her shoulder. “God, I can’t imagine. It’s going to be awkward for you tomorrow, watching them sing that sappy song. If Quinn had known that Dante had a girlfriend…”
“I don’t know if I’m his girlfriend,” Shayna blurted. “He was just helping me out, but then two nights ago we”—she blushed—“slept together.”
Ugh. Why couldn’t she phrase these things as eloquently as she did in her books?
Kat nodded, her brown eyes warm and compassionate. “I’ve been there before. The uncertainty’s a bitch, ain’t it?”
“Yes, it is.”
Even though Shayna daydreamed about a happy future for her and Dante, she knew that real life wasn’t a romance novel.
Chapter Fourteen
Dante allowed Klement to have shotgun in Quinn’s Escalade and sat in the back seat. Unfortunately, the six-block drive to the White House was too short to brace himself for seeing Collette. She’d told him she’d never sing again the last time they’d spoken, refusing to say why. He’d called her a traitor, which was admittedly harsher than she probably deserved, and she’d called him a cold-hearted bastard. And now they were going to sing together and give off a performance that conveyed romance.
Quinn interrupted Dante’s pondering. “So, how’d you end up with a romance author?”
Dante dodged the question. “Some romance authors like metal.”
Klement gave him a wry look, but Quinn eyed him in the rearview mirror and shrugged. “Well, she’s pretty cute, anyway. So I guess there’s no chance of a reconciliation with Collette then? I’d wondered if that was why you both agreed to this.”
“There wouldn’t be a chance either way. Shayna has nothing to do with it.” His voice came out harsher than he intended.
“All right, it’s cool, man.” Quinn ran a hand through his hair. “Except, now I feel like an ass for arranging for you to sing with your ex-wife. Having your new girlfriend there will be awkward for you guys.”
“It’s fine,” Dante said firmly. “This is a romantic song perfect for a romantic wedding, and your bride’s favorite. It will be about you and Kinley, not Collette and me. I’m just surprised Collette agreed to do it. She couldn’t have blown through her alimony this quick.”
“She’s doing it for free,” Quinn said. “Even though I offered a big chunk of change, she refused, just like you did. That surprised me, since I never got to know her well when you two were together.”
Dante was too shocked to respond. It wasn’t like Collette to perform for free. She had only done so for a few charities that she really believed in; they’d had countless arguments over which were worth it. A wedding was not a charity, so what was her motive?
The Escalade pulled into the driveway of the antique white mansion, and Dante froze as a thought occurred. What if she really did want to get back together? That was the last thing he needed to deal with right now.
As Dante got out of the Escalade, a rental Mercedes pulled up behind them and a pair of long, tanned legs swung out of the driver’s seat. He used to love those legs.
Collette walked toward him, her expression unreadable beneath mirrored sunglasses. Her golden hair sparkled in the dappling light through the trees, a goddess come down to Earth. Some people in the restaurant parking lot across the street had noticed her. A few pointed, recognition lighting their gazes. Cell phones emerged from pockets to take pictures.
“Dante,” Collette said in that sultry voice that used to give him chills. Now he felt nothing but exhaustion and a touch of suspicion.
“Collette. Thank you for doing this with me.”
“Of course.” She inclined her head toward the house. “It’s a beautiful venue. Shall we go in and see where we’ll set up?”
He nodded and looked to Quinn to lead the way. The sooner they were out of range of those cameras, the better. Though it was probably too late. The only time he ended up in the tabloids was when he was with Collette. Now that they were divorced, the coverage would be even more sensational.
The owner of the venue greeted them and led them into a cozy yet opulent manor with antique furnishings, hardwood floors, and damask wallpaper. A small raised platform was set up by the wide picture window, already loaded with amps and microphones.
Dante, Klement, and Collette examined the equipment on the platform. The microphones were tolerable, but both he and Collette winced at the quality of the PA system.
Klement looked at them with a grin. “Don’t worry, I’ve got the PAs and amps covered. We’ll also get an additional one for Dom’s keyboard.”
The owner gave them a wary frown. “It won’t be too loud, will it?”
“We won’t violate the noise ordinance,” Klement said simply, a tiny impish spark visible in his blue-green eyes. Dante bit the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing. They’d certainly push it to the limit.
The woman nodded. “Good. Now I must speak with the planner about the catering.”
As soon as the set list was recounted and the equipment inspected, Dante practically jogged out of the mansion with the rest of the guys. He didn’t want to spend any more time with his ex than necessary. He wanted Shayna again.
Just when he thought he was home free, Collette placed a hand on his arm. “Dante, may I speak with you a moment?”
He wanted to refuse. Instead, he gave her a brisk nod and allowed her to lead him to the gazebo in the center of the manicured lawn. If she thought for a second that she could waltz back into his life she had another thing—
“I’m ready to get back into music,” she said.
His jaw dropped. “What?” This was almost as insane. Admittedly, he still felt relieved she didn’t want to get back together.
Collette nodded, blue eyes wide and pleading. “Yes, I miss singing, the stage lights, the creation. I need—”
Date cut her off. “Do you really think it’ll be that easy to get back on stage after you abandoned your fans? Not to mention your agent and the producers and record company you bailed on? Are you even done paying off the lawsuit for all of those concerts people paid for?” Fury at the betrayal of her fans and colleagues rose anew. He’d never expected her to pull the same stunt that his childhood hero had. Just like he�
�d never expected it from Rage of Angels.
She shook her head, cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “No, I don’t. That’s why I want you to help me.”
He glared at her. “What the hell do you think I can do?”
Her lower lip quivered, but she held his gaze. “You’re one of the most respected and influential people in the industry. You know people. And those people listen to you.”
She had a point. Still… “They’ll stop listening to me if I recommend they take back an unreliable artist. Especially if you bail again.”
“I won’t, I promise.” Collette reached for him. “Please, Dante?”
The desperation in her gaze held him captive. He sighed, remembering how he’d freaked out on Shayna when he found out she was an author and how her writer’s block had stemmed from grief. Maybe Shayna was right and something had happened to Collette as well. And she didn’t really owe him an explanation.
“I’ll think about it.”
“What’d she want?” Klement asked when Dante climbed back into the Escalade.
Dante shook his head. “Nothing, just asking about a few colleagues she lost touch with.” He knew how Klement would react to the news that Collette wanted to make a comeback. The bassist did not look kindly on unreliability of any kind.
To his relief, Quinn changed the subject. “I’m glad that’s over. After tomorrow I’ll never have to deal with that coordinator again. I knew I should have taken Chrissy up on the offer to handle her.” He fired up the ignition and pulled out of the parking lot. “But now we have a bachelorette party to crash.”
Klement stroked his chin. “Although I’m delighted at the prospect, are we sure this is a good idea?”
“Of course,” Quinn said. “Kinley thinks segregating parties is sexist.”
The bassist smirked. “Or maybe she’s worried we’ll go to a tittie bar.”
Quinn chuckled. “That too.”
“But what if they got a stripper?” Worry crept into the bassist’s voice.
Quinn grinned. “Then we’ll pay him for his troubles and send him out the door.”
